IP Library Granted Patent US 8,850,778
Granted Patent B2
US 8,850,778 · App. 13/569,211 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Method and apparatus for bag closure and sealing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,850,778
App. No.
13/569,211
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; after creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for pinch closing and sealing a bag made of polymeric material, comprising:

a hot air manifold having a hot air chamber supplied with hot air under pressure;

a back wall of the hot air chamber having a distribution of air passages through the back wall for blowing hot air under pressure to heat a first adhesive layer to an adhesive state, wherein the first adhesive layer is on a first panel of the bag;

a top wall of the hot air chamber having a distribution of air passages through the top wall for blowing hot air under pressure to heat a second adhesive layer to an adhesive state, wherein the second adhesive layer is on a second panel of the bag including a flap portion, and wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material;

a pinch closing apparatus to pinch close an open end of the bag;

a creasing apparatus to crease the bag along a fold line; and

a folding blade to fold the hag along the fold line and bias the second panel of the bag to follow along the top wall of the hot air chamber, and to fold the second panel of the bag against the first panel of the bag to contact the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive, layer at a trailing end of the hot air chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

a pinch closing apparatus to clamp the second panel of the bag against the first panel of the bag and form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION), AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.; PAC WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075021/0794 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2023
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; APC PAPER COMPANY, INC.; APC PAPER COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; EL DORADO PACKAGING, INC.; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JANNEL MANUFACTURING INC.; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PRAIRIE STATE IMPRESSIONS, L.L.C.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER, LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 065239/0079 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 6, 2023
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS PREDECESSOR AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 065165/0919 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2023
From: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; APC PAPER COMPANY, INC.; APC PAPER COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; EL DORADO PACKAGING, INC.; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JANNEL MANUFACTURING INC.; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PRAIRIE STATE IMPRESSIONS, L.L.C.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER, LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063091/0264 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055139/0731 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 40997/0052 Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: ANTARES CAPITAL, LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054789/0751 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Dec 16, 2016
From: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040997/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Dec 16, 2016
From: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040997/0052 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2016
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 040368/0947 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2016
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 040368/0810 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037348/0723 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037349/0016 →